Upper School Admissions

Families who live in Saco, Dayton or Arundel have their tuition paid for by the town.

Learn how to register if you're a resident of Saco, Dayton, or Arundel.

 Required school fees include:

• Class Dues ($10 annually)
• iPad Fee ($50 annually)

Other fees may include:

• Lunches are NOT included. Students set up a debit account to purchase food in the dining commons.
• Most club activities are included, club field trips may require a fee. 
• Athletic uniforms are included, students must provide personal athletic equipment and clothing. 
• AP and SAT testing fees.
• Yearbooks.
• Tickets for concerts, plays, dance performances.
• Tickets to school dances.
• School pictures and sports pictures are available for purchase annually.
• Additional tech resources, such as the Apple Pencil. 
• Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (BRCOT) courses
• ExplorEC Early College credits
   

Once a student is fully enrolled (has submitted their signed contract and $2,000 deposit), they will be connected with the registrar's office to schedule an initial meeting with a school counselor. 

Course registrations begin in March for the following school year and continue until the academic year begins in early September.

Explore the 200+ classes at the Upper School 

At Thornton Academy, we work hard to ensure that all of our students have the opportunity to excel. If a student is struggling to progress academically, their teacher(s) and school counselor are the best points of contact.  

The Upper School has a system of supports and interventions available and a student's school counselor will recommend action steps tailored to meet the individual student's needs.

Additionally, all teachers have posted office hours where they are available to meet with students. Teachers also provide resources and support via Google Classroom and email for continued support. 

If a student is struggling socially or emotionally, their school counselor is an available support or they may connect the student with one of our four social workers for short-term counseling and support. 

Thornton Academy relies on our four pillars of respect, responsibility, compassion, and investment to define our school community. 

We work hard to develop a supportive and accepting community -  from the adults to the students, everyone approaches others with a sense of respect and curiosity.

Students are encourage to get involved with our existing clubs and groups, form their own, and advocate for change whenever they see a need.

Classes begin at 8:30am each day and finish at 2:45pm. Students have the opportunity to enroll in a maximum of eight blocks each year. Each day includes four 80-minute blocks on a rotating two-day schedule (Maroon & Gold days). Students eat lunch during one of four 'lunch waves' during block 3. 

After school, students are encouraged to participate in our wide array of clubs and athletics. 

Explore a day in the life of a current student

The college application process starts from grade 9 when students select their courses. Course selection is important to make sure you are the most qualified applicant you can be.

The emphasis on college counseling increases during a student's junior year. Students begin by taking the PSAT in the fall of grade 11. That spring school counselors will begin meeting with students in groups and individually to start examining the details of the application process.

Thornton Academy uses a program called SCOIR, on which students can explore colleges, begin creating college lists, and begin compiling the necessary documents for applications.

During their junior year, we encourage students to also attend spring and fall school counseling office events, such as college fairs, college panels, and financial aid information nights, which will help guide students in the application process.

Senior year, counselors begin meeting with students to nail down down the colleges they wish to apply to and begin filling out the Common Application. Students will write college essays in their English classes and hopefully have the opportunity to attend the college of their choice.

Learn more about the school counseling department

Most Thornton Academy graduates go on to a four-year college or university. Our students choose a wide variety of institutions that match their career goals, academic abilities, financial realities, and personal desires. Our school counselors work 1:1 with each student to help them choose an appropriate list of schools to apply to. 

Some of our graduates will choose to enter the military, take a gap year, or enter the workforce directly. 

At Thornton Academy, we help our students to become who they want to be, and each forges their own path. 

Fall sports practices begin before the school year starts. Contact our athletic director Gary Stevens at gary.stevens@thorntonacademy.org or 207-602-4406 to sign up. 

Sign-ups for winter and spring sports will take places 2-3 weeks before the season begins. 

For clubs and other activities, students will receive a weekly 'Trojan Times' email every Wednesday that includes details about club meetings and how to join. Make sure to check your email! 

Parents and guardians will receive access to PowerSchool and GoogleClassroom which will allow them to check in daily on their student's grades, assignments, and class progress. 

Parents are encouraged to keep in touch with their student's teachers and school counselor via email. A directory of all staff is available on this website. 

Two events each fall allow parents to stay in touch face-to-face: a 'Meet the Teacher' night in September and conferences in November.